Synonyms of antithetical

antithetical

adjective

ˌan-tə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 

as in contradictory

being as different as possible

spiritual concerns and ideals that are antithetical to the materialism embraced by modern society

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contradictory
• opposite
• contrary
• unfavorable
• diametric
• polar
• divergent
• antipodal
• negative
• hostile
• antagonistic
• antipodean
• adverse
• unlike
• dissimilar
• counter
• cross
• disparate
• reverse
• antipathetic
• alien
• inverse
• converse
• unalike
• obverse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• similar
• analogous
• like
• same
• noncontradictory
• identical
• equivalent
• alike
• synonymous

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective antithetical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of antithetical are contradictory, contrary, and opposite. While all these words mean "being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable," antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition.

a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy

When can contradictory be used instead of antithetical?

While in some cases nearly identical to antithetical, contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid.

made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall

When might contrary be a better fit than antithetical?

While the synonyms contrary and antithetical are close in meaning, contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition.

contrary assessments of the war situation

In what contexts can opposite take the place of antithetical?

The meanings of opposite and antithetical largely overlap; however, opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict.

opposite views on foreign aid

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of antithetical

This is the antithetical froth that bubbles up in their wake, and it is never left completely behind. — Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026

Using LLMs to smooth out the challenges of wrestling with a text, of struggling to find the right words to convey a thought, of piloting one’s own personal and intellectual development, is antithetical to this type of education. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

For such a thing, the Nuvolari seems to have come out of nowhere, which seems antithetical to the meticulous planning that brought us the R8. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026

Luxury taxes are of debatable worth in sports anyway; in a division where the richest can already spend far more than the rest, imbuing them with even greater resources is antithetical to competitive balance. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

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